đ Up next
Canada
Sprint Weekend
FP121h 55m
Fernando Alonso says Formula 1âs turbo-hybrid era has cost the sport ânearly one decade, or even more, of pure racingâ, as he argued the proposed move to a 60/40 split between internal combustion and electrification from 2027 will not change the core characteristics of the power units. Alonso said: "Unfortunately, we have this period, from 2014 in the turbo era, and now even more, we've lost nearly one decade, or even more, of pure racing."
Honda's Shinato Orihara says the battery vibration problems that hit Aston Martinâs reliability early in the 2026 season are now âgoneâ, with attention switching to energy management and drivability. Orihara said: "In Miami, we had a good step on reliability, and the battery issues are, let's say, now gone. Then we now focus on improving the energy management and also driveability; that is the main improvement point for lap time. So we have optimised our data settings for reliability."
Aston Martin chief trackside officer Mike Krack says the team must âprotectâ its drivers from mounting frustration as it waits until the summer break to bring major upgrades to its AMR26. Krack said: "The drivers are the ones that need to be protected the most, because you ask them the same question every Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday, and then the week after again Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday. So for them it's most difficult to be repetitive and give you each time the same response. I said it in Shanghai already, we need to protect the drivers from that, because they accumulate that frustration being at the back of the field."
The FIA has set a 6MJ energy harvesting limit for both qualifying sessions at this weekendâs Canadian Grand Prix, the lowest qualifying recharge cap of the 2026 season so far and 1MJ lower than at the opening round in Melbourne. The FIA has also designated four Straight Mode zones for Montreal: the three activation areas that matched last yearâs DRS zones, plus an extra section between turns nine and 10, although that fourth zone will only be available in dry conditions.
Cadillac team principal Graeme Lowdon says the teamâs goal at this weekendâs Canadian Grand Prix is to build on the momentum from Miami, after introducing its first major upgrade package of the season. Lowdon said: "The team performed really well in Miami. We introduced our first major upgrade package, which resulted in a notable increase in performance, and once again, both cars finished in the Sprint and the Grand Prix, which was a great result. The team also executed two pit stops that were among the top 10 fastest of the weekend, showing that, from an operational standpoint, we are on a strong upward trajectory. The goal in Montreal... is to build on that momentum and keep making such progress."
Ferrari boss Fred Vasseur says it is âa bit unfairâ that the FIA introduced a âlow power start detectionâ system that can trigger automatic MGU-K deployment, after rivals raised safety concerns about poor launches with the new 2026 power units. Vasseur said: "You can put on the table the safety grounds, and it's the right of the FIA and I have just to accept. But at the end, I think it's also a bit unfair on us. ... So then to have half of the grid, 40 per cent of the grid complaining, that it's mega dangerous and so on. Politically, [it] was well played but not very fair."
Arvid Lindblad's mentor Oliver Rowland says the 18-year-old has âall the key ingredientsâ to build on his start to his first Formula 1 season, after what he described as an âup and downâ opening run that included points on his debut in Australia. Rowland said: "Up and down, which is to be expected. I think, obviously, the first race was exceptional. Miami was a little bit disappointing and a lot for us to look at. So I think it's not easy for him on a Sprint weekend, especially with reliability issues, missing Sprint race [in Miami]. But all the key ingredients are there, and we just need to keep working hard."
McLaren chief executive Zak Brown says his job is to make McLaren an environment where Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris do not want to leave, after claims Piastri could be a target for Red Bull if Max Verstappen departs. Zak Brown said: "I would imagine there's not a team on the grid that wouldn't want to have Oscar and Lando driving for them. My general view, contracts aside, is that our job is to create an environment where our drivers don't want to drive anywhere else. You don't want to hold someone because you've got a piece of paper; you want them to go: 'This is the team I want to race with.'"
George Russell says he can put a âturbulentâ start to the season behind him at this weekendâs Canadian Grand Prix after learning lessons from what he called a âtoughâ race in Miami. Russell said: "It's been a turbulent start but the truth is Miami felt like the first tough race of the season. I'm in a good place because I think I've come away from Miami, I've learned more in Miami than I've learned in the first three races of the season."
Ferrari team principal FrĂŠdĂŠric Vasseur says the team must be âon the ball from the first sessionâ in Montreal, with the Sprint format leaving limited preparation time and potentially tricky weather adding to the challenge. Vasseur said: "From a racing point of view, Montreal is never straightforward. The track is demanding on brakes, traction is important out of the slow corners and chicanes, and this year the weather and low temperatures could add another layer of complexity, especially with the Sprint format giving us limited preparation time. We will need to be on the ball from the first session, focus on execution, and make the most of every opportunity over the weekend."
Madring general manager Luis Garcia Abad has insisted preparations for Madridâs first Spanish Grand Prix on 11-13 September remain on schedule despite concerns about how much work is still left at the new circuit, telling Motorsport Week that anyone who saw the site now âwill not have any doubt about thatâ.
Racing Bulls technical director Dan Fallows will make his first trackside appearance for the team at this weekendâs Canadian Grand Prix in Montreal, after starting the role in April 2026 following his January signing.
Christian Horner has taken on a new role away from Formula 1, joining Oakley Capital as an adviser on investments in premium sports after leaving Red Bull last season. Horner said the move reflects the growth he sees in the sector: âSports businesses are benefitting from growing global audiences and participation rates as more people embrace healthier, active lifestyles.â
Williams has confirmed four senior hires from rival teams, led by former McLaren chief operating officer Piers Thynne, who left that role in January and will start at Williams on an unspecified date in August as its new chief optimisation and planning officer. Claire Simpson and Fred Judd arrive from Mercedes as head of aerodynamic development and head of performance optimisation respectively, while Steve Booth joins from Alpine as head of vehicle engineering.
Ferrari boss Fred Vasseur says cooler temperatures in Montreal could add âanother layer of complexityâ at the Canadian Grand Prix, with the sprint format limiting preparation time. Vasseur said: "From a racing point of view, Montreal is never straightforward. The track is demanding on brakes, traction is important out of the slow corners and chicanes, and this year the weather and low temperatures could add another layer of complexity, especially with the sprint format giving us limited preparation time."
Red Bull technical director Pierre Wache says the team hopes its new wind tunnel at Milton Keynes will be running at the beginning of next year, with the team still working with what he described as the âsame tool and the same issuesâ from its current facility. Wache said: "But we have a new tool coming soon and I hope it will bring us another step. We hope that we will have it running at the beginning of next year."
The Las Vegas Grand Prix has cleared a key local-government hurdle to remain on the Formula 1 calendar through 2037, after the Clark County Commission unanimously approved a resolution on Tuesday recognising the race as an âannual eventâ over the Thanksgiving weekend. Commission chair Michael Naft said any longer-term continuation must come with less disruption for local residents and businesses during the build-up and de-rig of the circuit, saying: âI support this, but itâs got to come with very clear parameters that the purpose of more time is to condense the timeline.â
Lance Stroll says Aston Martin team principal Adrian Newey is âthe right person for the jobâ to create his dream Formula 1 car, as he outlined the characteristics he wants from a âperfect racing carâ ahead of the Canadian Grand Prix. Stroll said: "If I had to pick examples, a lot of the Adrian Newey-designed cars from Sebastian Vettel's championship-winning era were close to perfect. So we've got the right person for the job."
Jenson Button says Lewis Hamilton still needs to keep doing simulator work for Ferrari, even after Hamilton said following the Miami Grand Prix that he planned to step back because he felt it had taken him in the wrong direction with his set-up. Button said: "The last couple of races haven't been easy for him, and sometimes you can get a little bit lost in the simulator by going down the wrong direction with set-up. You still need to do it though, there's homework that is needed to be done away from the track."
Get the full feed, faster alerts, and the stories worth following on your phone.
